Parallel vise

ABSTRACT

A parallel vise with a tunnel-shaped base portion in which a correspondingly shaped guiding rail carrying the movable jaw is displaceable, and in which said guiding rail has longitudinally extending inclined guiding surface means slidably engaged by correspondingly inclined surface means of a spring-loaded bushing which is adjustable from the outside of the vise, clutch means being provided between said bushing and adjusting means operable from the outside of said vise.

United States Patent Jagob 1 June 27, 1972 [54] PARALLEL VISE 851,397 4/1907 Broadbooks ..,....269/203 [72] Inventor: Karl Jagob, Silschede, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 Assisneel Paul Ferd- Peddinahaus, Gevelsberg, 1,034,797 7/1966 Great Britain... ..269/285 many Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon [22] Flled' June 1970 Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams [2]] Appl. No.: 45,381 Attorney-Walter Becker v [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A parallel vise with a tunnel-shaped base portion in which a June 1 1, 1969 Germany ..P 19 29 488.3 correspondingly Shaped guiding rail carrying the movable jaw is displaceable, and in which said guiding rail has longitu- [52] [1.8. CI. ..269/203, 188/67, 269/285 i u extending inclined guiding Surface means lid 1 Int. Cl. gaged correspondingly inclined urface means of a pring- [58] Field of Search ..269/203-215, 285; loaded bushing which is adjustable from the Outside Of h 188/67, 83 vise, clutch means being provided between said bushing and adjusting means operable from the outside of said vise. [56] References Cited 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,299,828 4/1919 Fulton ..269/203 gwn 1 P'A'TENTEnJum m2 INVENTOR. yaf/ 5 PARALLEL VISE D the guiding rail form surfaces which are inclined relative to each other and at least one of which engages a control device with a correspondingly inclined counter surface for the play of the guiding rail in the stationary foot portion of the vise.

A parallel vise has become known according to which a guiding rail of the movable jaw is adjustable in the tunnelshaped stationary foot portion of the vise while the two upper longitudinal edges of the guiding rail form two surfaces inclined relative to each other. The control device for the play in vertical direction of the guiding rail in the tunnel-shaped stationary foot portion of the vise is formed by two adjusting screws extending perpendicularly with regard to the two inclined surfaces.

According to a further heretofore known parallel vise of the type involved, the control device for the play of the guiding rail comprises a block which forms a correspondingly inclined counter surface for one inclined surface of the guiding rail, the block being controlled by two extension screws arranged coaxially with regard to each other and adapted to engage the block. The second inclined surface of the guiding rail is in this instance in engagement with a correspondingly inclined surface of the tunnel-shaped stationary foot portion of the vise.

With the heretofore known above described parallel vises, the guiding rail of the movable jaw is generally only in point engagement, at best in linear line engagement, with the adjusting device, but an engagement over a surface which could bring about a low specific surface pressure between the guiding rail and the adjusting device does not occur. A low specific surface pressure is indispensable if it is to be avoided that the control devices have to be frequently readjusted. In this connection it should also be taken into consideration that when the movable jaw is subjected to stresses, forces are exerted with regard to the stationary foot portion of the vise in horizontal as well as in vertical direction which forces act upon the movable jaw and thereby upon the guiding, rail therefor.

A further heretofore known vise with a guiding rail for the movable jaw comprises two oppositely located longitudinal grooves in the guiding rail. Two guiding members provided with engaging surfaces inclinedrelative to each other extend into these longitudinal grooves. The guiding members are provided at the oppositely located inner walls of the tunnelshaped recess of the foot portion of the vise. These wedge members are adapted by means of a screw to firmly engage the corresponding inner wall while a wedge located below the guiding rail will see to it that the groove surfaces of the guiding rail are pressed from below against corresponding surfaces of the guiding members. Inasmuch as the guiding members are not longitudinally displaceable while, on the other hand, the wedge presses from below against the guiding rail, a unilateral engagement of the rail with the guiding members will forcibly be brought about. Aside therefrom, this known embodiment requires two grooves in the guiding rail, two guiding members, an additional wedge with adjusting screws as well as the corresponding recesses in the foot portion of the vise. It will be appreciated that such vise is expensive and requires many parts.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a parallel vise in which a surface contact between the guiding rail and the adjusting device for the play of the rail will be obtained regardless of the position which the guiding rail will, in view of the horizontal or verticalforces exerted thereupon, take on in the tunnel-shaped passage of the foot portion of the vise.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a parallel vise as set forth in the preceding paragraph, which will assure a-low specific surface pressure between the mentioned members whereby also a frequent post-adjustment of the adjusting device will be avoided, if a better guiding is not required.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vise according to the inventron.

FIG. 2 is a section through the stationary foot portion of the vise showing the guiding rail, the bushing, the coupling sleeve and the threaded plug.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the threaded plug.

FIG. 4 is a top view upon the bushing.

FIG. 5 represents a further embodiment of the vise according to the invention with a friction clutch between the bushing and the threaded plug or stopper.

The parallel vise according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the control device comprises a cylindrical bushing which in its thread-free receiving bore is rotatable about its horizontal longitudinal axis. The inclined surface starts from that end face of the bushing which faces the guiding rail or itself forms the inclined surface, the bushing being held in the bore by longitudinally displaceable closure The connection of the guiding rails by means of screws or the like is known in connection with vises but does not solve the problem underlying the present invention.

Preferably, the bushing is in its longitudinal direction provided with an inner polygonal bore which is open toward that side which faces away from the guiding rail of the movable jaw. The polygonal bore has displaceably movably arranged therein a spring-urged coupling sleeve.

The longitudinally displaceable closure means of the receiving bore of the bushing is, in conformity with a further development of the invention, provided with a threaded stud having a square threaded fine thread with a polygonal bore which is coaxial with the polygonal bore of the bushing and the cross-section of which is smaller with regard to the coupling sleeve. Through the smaller polygonal bore of the threaded stud a corresponding polygonal outer wrench can be placed by means of which the coupling sleeve can against the thrust of the spring of the sleeve be pressed back so that the coupling engagement between the bushing and the threaded stud will be discontinued in such a way that the threaded plug or stopper, for reducingor increasing the play between the bushing and the guiding rail, may be rotated. The bushing itself is adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis to the extent to which the guiding rail is loaded in horizontal or vertical direction and adjusts itself in lateral or vertical direction. The clutch, therefore, serves primarily the purpose of securing the threaded stud against accidental loosening. On the other hand, it should be possible by simple means to adjust the threaded stud or stopper and thereby the above mentioned play.

With the design of the vise according to the invention it is furthermore suggested that the threaded stud on that side of the bushing which faces the latter be provided with a polygonal bore which together with the smaller polygonal bore forms a shoulder the cross-section of which corresponds to the cross-section of the bore in the bushing and is coaxial therewith. In this way the coupling sleeve comprises a polygonal and pot-shaped sliding member which corresponds to the cross-section of the bore in the bushing andto the larger bore of the threaded stopper. The pressure spring engages that end of the sliding member which faces the guiding rail.

While with the described embodiment the adjustment of the threaded stopper relative to the bushing can be effected to an extent which corresponds to the number of the corners of the sleeve as, for instance, with a hexagonal sleeve by 60 and with a sleeve having twelve'corners by 30, according to a further embodiment of the vise according to the invention there exits the possibility of preventing an accidental turning of the threaded stopper or plug relative to the bushing. To this end, that end face of the coupling which faces the threaded plug and the threaded plugat the level of the sleeve and at that end face which faces the sleeve are provided with a lining which increases the friction between the two parts, while the tension or thrust of the spring of the couplingsleeve is so selected that the threaded plug is held in a self-locking manner in its threaded bore.

Also in this instance an outer multi-edge wrench can be passed through the smaller polygonal bore of the threaded plug which wrench presses the coupling sleeve somewhat away from the end face of the threaded plug whereupon the threaded plug is by means of the inserted wrench turned to such an extent as required by the desired play between the bushing and the guiding rail. After the removal of the wrench from the small polygonal bore of the threaded plug, the end face of the coupling sleeve again engagesthe corresponding end face of the threaded plug while the friction lining and the spring will see to it that the threaded stopper or plug can no longer turn relative to the bushing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the stationary foot portion 1 of the vise is connected to a horizontal foot plate 2 which by means of bolts extending through bores 3 is adapted to be connected with a support as, for instance, a work bench. The foot portion 1 has a tunnel-shaped passage 4 through which extends the guiding rail 5 which is displaceable in the direction of the double arrow K and which carries the movable jaw 6 comprising the jaw liner 7. Opposite the jaw liner 7 there is provided the jaw liner 8 which is mounted on the jaw 9 of the foot portion 1 of the vise. By means of a spindle not shown in the drawing and adapted to pass through bore 10, it is possible to longitudinally adjust the rail 5 with regard to the foot portion 1 of the vise.

The guiding rail 5 which is of a U-shaped cross-section comprises the two legs ll, 12 and the web 13. The two upper edge sections 14, 15 of the guiding rail comprise the two inclined surfaces l6, 17 of which the inclined surface 16 rests against a correspondingly inclined surface 18 of the tunnel-shaped passage 4 of the vise whereas the inclined surface 17 has resting thereagainst the inclined surface 19 of two cylindrical bushings 20. Each of these thread-free bushings is displaceable in a corresponding thread-free bore 21 of the foot portion 1 of the vise in the direction of the arrow S. Due to the fact that the two inclined surfaces 17, 19 engage each other, each bushing is pivotable about its longitudinal axis L to an extent which corresponds to the horizontal or vertical adjustment of the guiding rail 5 in the tunnel-shaped passage 4.

Bushing 20 has an inner polygonal bore 22 which has displaceably arranged therein a coupling sleeve 23 of similar outer cross-section. The coupling sleeve 23 is of a pot-shaped design and has partially extending thereinto a spring 24 one end of which rests against the face wall of the polygonal bore 22 while its other end rests against the bottom or web portion of the coupling sleeve 23. Spring 24 has the tendency to displace the coupling sleeve 23 in FIG. 2 in the direction toward the left with regard to the drawing.

Into the bore 21 which is coaxial with the threaded bore 25 of the foot portion 1 of the vise there may be screwed a threaded stopper or the like 26 which has a polygonal bore 27. Bore 27 is coaxial with the bore 22 and has also the same cross-section as bore 22. The bore 27 extends only slightly into the threaded stopper 26 and merges with a smaller polygonal bore which is coaxial with the bores 21, 22, 25 and 27. Bore 27 forms a shoulder 28.

A corresponding outer polygonal wrench may be inserted into the polygonal bore 29 so that the end face of the wrench turns back the coupling sleeve 23 and does so against the thrust of spring 24 to such an extent that the sleeve 23 can be received only in bore 22 and no longer in bore 27 of the threaded stopper 26. As a result thereof, it is possible to turn the threaded stopper 26 by means of the wrench having an outer polygonal surface in such a way that the bushing 20 will obtain the desired play relative to the rail 5. Subsequently, the wrench is withdrawn while the sleeve 23 again enters the short polygonal bore 27 of stopper 26. If it should happen that the sleeve in its location is not in precise alignment with the short bore 27, the wrench is withdrawn slightly into the polygonal bore so that the coupling sleeve 23 will with a slight further turning of the threaded stopper 26 be able to enter the polygonal bore 27 whereby the stopper 26 is non-rotatably coupled to the bushing 20. When working with the vise, therefore, an accidental loosening of the threaded stopper 26 cannot occur.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 5, again two bores 21 are provided in the foot portion 1 of the vise. In each of said bores a bushing 20 is arranged. The bushing 20 is likewise pro vided with an inclined surface 19 and has an inner polygonal bore 22 which receives a coupling sleeve 30 of a corresponding outer diameter. The said coupling sleeve 30 is engaged by a spring 31.

The threaded stopper 32 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 likewise has the small inner polygonal bore 29 but has no further polygonal bore. Instead, the end face 33 of the threaded stopper is at the level of the coupling sleeve 30, and the corresponding end face 34 of the coupling sleeve 30 is equipped with a liner or a corresponding surface which increases the friction between the parts 30 and 32. Spring 31 is so selected that when taking into consideration the friction conditions between the parts 30 and 32, an accidental loosening of the threaded stopper 32 will be impossible, when the coupling sleeve 30 is by means of spring 32 pressed against the threaded stopper 32,

If again an outer polygonal wrench is passed through the small polygonal bore 29 and the coupling sleeve 30 is pressed back so that the two oppositely located end faces of sleeve 30 and of the threaded stopper 32 are lifted off each other, the threaded stopper can be infinitely variably adjusted to such an extent as the play between the bushing 20 and the guiding rail 5 will require. When withdrawing the outer polygonal wrench from bore 29, The coupling sleeve 30 will again engage the threaded stopper whereby the latter is secured against turning.

The thread of bore 25 preferably is a fine thread with slight pitch. The bushing 20 is, therefore, able to turn about its longitudinal axis L to the same extent as the guiding rail 5 is loaded in horizontal or vertical direction and is adjusted laterally or as to height without requiring any material longitudinal adjustment of the bushing 20.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A parallel vise which includes: a base body for connection to a stationary member, first jaw means connected to said base body, second jaw means substantially parallel to said first jaw means and movable relative to and selectively toward and away from said first jaw means for closing and opening said vise, said base body being provided with passage means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, rail means reciprocable in said passage means and connected to said second jaw means, said rail means having inclined guiding surface means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, said base body being provided with a bore extending from the outside of said base body into said passage means in a direction transverse thereto and within the region of said inclined guiding surface means, said bore having a first section forming the outer section of said bore and also having a second section substantially coaxial with said first section and with a substantially smooth inner wall surface while forming the inner section of said bore, bushing means arranged in said second section of said bore and slidable to swing about and move in the longitudinal direction of its longitudinal axis and provided with inclined surface means for sliding and guiding engagement mating complementary with said inclined guiding surface means of said rail means, and control means adjustably arranged in said first section of said bore and operable to control the position of said bushing means.

2. A parallel vise which includes: a base body for connection to a stationary member, first jaw means connected to said base body, second jaw means substantially parallel to said first jaw means and movable relative to and selectively toward and away from said first jaw means for closing and opening said vise, said base body being provided with passage means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, rail means reciprocable in said passage means and connected to said second jaw means, said rail means having inclined guiding surface means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, said base body being provided with a bore extending from the outside of said base body into said passage means in a direction transverse thereto and within the region of said inclined guiding surface means, said bore having a first section forming the outer section of said bore and also having a second section substantially coaxial with said first section and with a substantially smooth inner wall surface while forming the inner section of said bore, bushing means arranged in said second section of said bore and slidable about and in the longitudinal direction of its longitudinal axis and provided with inclined surface means for sliding and guiding engagement with said inclined guiding surface means of said rail means, and control means adjustably arranged in said first section of said bore and operable to control the position of said bushing means, said bushing means having a multi-cornered blind hole closed toward said passage means and open toward said first section, clutch means reciprocable in said blind hole, and spring means operable to continuously urge said clutch means into and hold the same in abutting engagement with said control means.

3. A vise according to claim 2, in which said first bore section is threaded, and in which said control means includes a threaded stopper threadedly and adjustably engaging said threaded first bore section and provided with a multi-cornered bore at least approximately in axial alignment with said first mentioned multi-cornered bore but having a diameter less than said first mentioned multi-cornered bore.

4. A vise according to claim 3, in which that end face of said stopper which faces said clutch means is provided with an additional multi-cornered bore having the same diameter and contour as the multi-cornered blind hole, said additional multi-comered bore forming a shoulder with the adjacent wall portion of said stopper.

5. A vise according to claim 2, in which said clutch means is formed by a pot-shaped member closed toward the outside of said first section, said spring means being located in said potshaped member and engaging the closed end thereof and said bushing means.

6. A vise according to claim 2, which includes friction liner means respectively provided at the abutting engaging surfaces of said control means and said clutch :means. 

1. A parallel vise which includes: a base body for connection to a stationary member, first jaw means connected to said base body, second jaw means substantially parallel to said first jaw means and movable relative to and selectively toward and away from said first jaw means for closing and opening said vise, said base body being provided with passage means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, rail means reciprocable in said passage means and connected to said second jaw means, said rail means having inclined guiding surface means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, said base body being provided with a bore extending from the outside of said base body into said passage means in a direction transverse thereto and within the region of said inclined guiding surface means, said bore having a first section forming the outer section of said bore and also having a second section substantially coaxial with said first section and with a substantially smooth inner wall surface while forming the inner section of said bore, bushing means arranged in said second section of said bore and slidable to swing about and move in the longitudinal direction of its longitudinal axis and provided with inclined surface means for sliding and guiding engagement mating complementary with said inclined guiding surface means of said rail means, and control means adjustably arranged in said first section of said bore and operable to control the position of said bushing means.
 2. A parallel vise which includes: a base body for connection to a stationary member, first jaw means connected to said base body, second jaw means substantially parallel to said first jaw means and movable relative to and selectively toward and away from said first jaw means for closing and opening said vise, said base body being provided with passage means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, rail means reciprocable in said passage means and connected to said second jaw means, said rail means having inclined guiding surface means extending in the closing and opening direction of said vise, said base body being provided with a bore extending from the outside of said base body into said passage means in a direction transverse thereto and within the region of said inclined guiding surface means, said bore having a first section forming the outer section of said bore and also having a second section substantially coaxial with said first section and with a substantially smooth inner wall surface while forming the inner section of said bore, bushing means arranged in said second section of said bore and slidable about and in the longitudinal direction of its longitudinal axis and provided with inclined surface means for sliding and guiding engagement with said inclined guiding surface means of said rail means, and control means adjustably arranged in said first section of said bore and operable to control the position of said bushing means, said bushing means having a multi-cornered blind hole closed toward said passage means and open toward said first section, clutch means reciprocable in said blind hole, and spring means operable to continuously urge said clutch means into and hold the same in abutting engagement with said control means.
 3. A vise according to claim 2, in which said first bore section is threaded, and in which said control means includes a threaded stopper threadedly and adjustably engaging said threaded first bore section and provided with a multi-cornered bore at least approximately in axial alignment with said first mentioned multi-cornered bore but having a diameter less than said first mentioned multi-cornered bore.
 4. A vise according to claim 3, in which that enD face of said stopper which faces said clutch means is provided with an additional multi-cornered bore having the same diameter and contour as the multi-cornered blind hole, said additional multi-cornered bore forming a shoulder with the adjacent wall portion of said stopper.
 5. A vise according to claim 2, in which said clutch means is formed by a pot-shaped member closed toward the outside of said first section, said spring means being located in said pot-shaped member and engaging the closed end thereof and said bushing means.
 6. A vise according to claim 2, which includes friction liner means respectively provided at the abutting engaging surfaces of said control means and said clutch means. 